Cops clear mall, overlook theatre

Following a hoax bomb alert, the Delhi Police evacuated all visitors to an upscale city mall on Sunday — but initially forgot all about those watching movies at the adjacent multiplex.

Following a hoax bomb alert, the Delhi Police evacuated all visitors to an upscale city mall on Sunday — but initially forgot all about those watching movies at the adjacent multiplex.

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Informed about an anonymous fax message that said a bomb had been placed inside the Select City Walk mall in Saket, south Delhi, the police rushed to the spot, evacuating it completely, but overlooking the theatergoers next door. Those within claimed that the police came to warn them a full hour after they had emptied out the mall.

“With no information about the alleged bomb, people like me sitting inside the theatre could have been blown up,” said Deepak Singh (45), a corporate affairs analyst who was watching one of the movies on show. “What kind of evacuation is this when so many people on the premises were ignored?”

“There was a delay in evacuating the theatre,” said a senior PVR official. Police say the sheer size of the complex may have led to their overlooking the six-screen multiplex, with a capacity of more than 1,000, while clearing the area. “We reached the theatre complex a bit late as it is located outside the mall,” said Vijay Singh, additional Deputy Commissioner of Police I (South).